Uconn

5 things to watch in the UConn women's 2012-13 season Season preview By Roger Cleaveland Republican-American

Connecticut's Breanna Stewart, center, fights for a rebound with Holy Family's Kasey Woetzel, left, and Maggie Serratelli during the second half of Connecticut's 119-50 victory in an exhibition NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Stewart scored a game-high 21 points in the win. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

There seems to be little chance of anyone besides Baylor denying the UConn women's basketball team one of those special seasons the program seems to produce every five years or so. Yet even though the drama is often lacking in such years, the Huskies' explosiveness and versatility should make them entertaining this season regardless of the score in most games.

Nearly everyone with knowledge of women's basketball, or an opinion on it, believes that so much is preordained that the Huskies' season can be simplified into two simple questions:

Can the Huskies stop the Baylor Bears' win streak, which could be at 65 games by the time they play each other in Hartford on Feb. 18? And can UConn beat Baylor for the national championship to finish another undefeated season and win an eighth national championship to tie Tennessee for the most in women's basketball history?

The answer to both questions is yes. Of course, Baylor can also win both games and put itself in position to join the Huskies as the only two women's programs with back-to-back undefeated seasons.

While it may be difficult to find teams that can beat the Huskies, or even remain with 10 points of them, there are plenty of interesting developments to watch within the team this year. Here are five of them:

1. More pressure defense: The precarious nature of Caroline Doty's knee last season and the insecurities and inconsistencies of freshman guard Brianna Banks limited the Huskies' ability to press opponents. Coach Geno Auriemma didn't want to wear out his dependable guards or get in foul trouble.

This season, Banks is a completely different, more confident player. Kelly Faris is playing guard rather than power forward, and freshman guard Moriah Jefferson is a very confident, pesky, athletic addition. Look for the Huskies to apply a lot more fullcourt pressure, or at least more aggressively harass opposing guards. It could speed up the game and make the Huskies more entertaining.

2. Development at point guard: Assistant coach Shea Ralph, who works with the team's guards, said the Huskies haven't had a true point guard since Rita Williams in 1998. As good as Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Renee Montgomery all were as point guards, they were actually true scoring guards who worked hard to become great facilitators.

Jefferson is a point guard by nature, and her expected quick development could improve the team dramatically. The Huskies have great shooting guards in Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Bria Hartley as well as scoring guards with great potential in Doty and Banks. If Jefferson can run the team, UConn becomes more lethal offensively.

3. Play of Kelly Faris: Doty calls Faris the hardest-working player in the country, a kid who plays with such grit, determination and unselfishness that she allows everyone around her to be great. Often, Faris goes unnoticed because her contributions will come in leading the team in assists, shutting down the best opposing scorer or scrapping to keep balls alive and earn extra possessions on the offensive end.

With this being Faris' senior season, take the time to appreciate some of the things she does on the court. Watch how hard she plays, how physical she can be and how determined she is to make things easier for others.

4. The impact of Breanna Stewart: Her teammates will tell you the freshman is going to compete with Stefanie Dolson this season, not for being the team's best post player but for the designation of goofiest player on the team. She's a prankster with a really great sense of humor who doesn't take herself too seriously.

Everyone else had better take her seriously, though, because the kid can play. It's tiring already typing the phrase "6-foot-4 post player with a 71-inch wing span," but take notice of that fact. She has the size and the length to dominate in the post and the versatility and smoothness to be a threat anywhere on the court.

It's no exaggeration to say that she has more offensive potential than anyone on the team, which is saying something with this group. Stewart can shoot the three, take you off the dribble, post up, clear the offensive boards and hit the midrange jumper. She should also make Dolson better in the post.

5. Can Mosqueda-Lewis mature into an All-American?: Last year's leading scorer seems more focused and willing to become a more complete player. She also has more pressure on her to be the Huskies' best player this year. No longer does she get to use the excuse of being a freshman if she disappears in games or defers to others.

She's an exceptional 3-point shooter, but she needs to take advantage of her strong body by posting up more and rebounding. She needs to utilize her smooth shooting touch to hurt opponents with a midrange game. And she needs to finish games strongly. If she and Hartley mature to the point where they can close out opponents, the Huskies do indeed have the type of team that could be unstoppable.

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